The Messenger





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Trinity Lutheran Church
609 S. Lincoln Ave Owatonna, MN 55060
phone: (507) 451-4520
fax: (507) 451-1348
 

Additional Messengers:

June 07, July 07August 07September 07October 07November 07December 07January 08,  February 08, March 08, April 08, May 08   

Excerpt from the May Messenger        

“Prayer - That Was Easy!”

Several Sundays ago I spoke to you to the little red “Easy Button,” the magic wand device from Staples, the office supply company, that with just one click will fix any problem that comes up - in the office.   

There are many life situations – past and present – where we could use an “Easy Button” fix: those final exams looming ahead of you, a struggling relationship, getting the house clean and the laundry done, getting the kids to bed at a decent hour, that never-ending home remodeling project, bigger bills than income, a chronic medical condition, a loved one facing death. 

Clearly there are elements in life and our Christian journey that are hard.  And if we are honest, we all want God to make things easy for us – a bit like a genie emerging from a lamp to grant us wishes, but it doesn’t work that way.  Life and faith are often bumpy roads and not efficient highways.  Suffering comes in many forms.     

Emotional Depression, anxiety, childhood traumas, self-inflicted food disorders.
Physical
Sickness, physically disabled.  Up to 20% of people in the United States deal with some form of chronic pain. 
Familial
Discontentment and hopelessness wreck many marriages.  Some families face miscarriages, infertility, child/parent struggles and children with special needs.
Spiritual
As people of faith, sometimes we face unanswerable questions and shrink back with doubts.  We may have been wronged deeply and yet called to forgive.
Relational
– Loneliness, hopelessness, a sense of being passed over.  Consider how many dysfunctions divide family and friendship circles.

Looking at this list we are safe in saying that it is not just the weak and immature Christians who suffer.  Not just the disobedient who bring it upon themselves.  I think it is fair to say that we all suffer.  No person is immune to potential suffering in life and in faith. 

Jesus said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble.”  It should come then as no surprise when we suffer.  But too often we cry and complain instead of persevering in faith.  Our feelings are too fragile and our expectations unrealistic.  The goal of life is not comfort and ease and everything just the way we like it.  The goal should be to follow Christ through the good and the bad times.  When things don’t go our way we should learn to patiently endure and persevere, trusting that God has us right where we are for a reason, trusting that God is with us through it all.  Much easier said than done, right? 

Good news!  There’s a Prayer Seminar coming to Trinity!  On May 14th at 6:30pm, Pastor Steve Perkins - one of Trinity’s former interns who is now serving Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Ramsey, MN – and his wife Sarah – a daughter of Trinity – will be here to address these very issues and concerns.  Make plans to clear your schedule and join us for their very powerful and engaging presentation, “The Power of Healing Prayer.” 

Our evening will begin with a wonderful turkey dinner made by our Food Coordinator, Karen Oeltjenbruns, and her helpers!  The Adult Education Commission will be providing a fantastic desert.   Dinner will be served from 5:00 to 6:15pm.  Desert will be served at the intermission of the Prayer Seminar.  Other than the usual cost for a Wednesday night meal, the Prayer Seminar is FREE!  So bring your family, friends, and neighbors.  We’ll see you there!

 

 

 

 

  Keep Shining!  Pastor Julie